Possible MRSA?!
Question: Ok, I've has quite a few medical problems lately, but one of things that really concerns me is an old scar from an abcessed lymph node in my elbow has swollen and gotten hard. Why does this concern me so? Because I was recently in the hospital for abdominal pain and the swelling started a day or so after I got out. I am concerned I may have contacted MRSA. Here is my progression of symptoms and events- I get out of the hospital and my old scar becomes painful, then it becomes swollen and painful, then it is red, swollen, painful and warm to the touch, stays that way for a day or so and then the swelling reduces, the pain lessens, it no longer is warm to the touch or red, but it has condensed into a a very hard mass beneath the skin that is still mildly sore when pressed. I went to the Dr who order me back on levaquin (I used it for cat scratch) and ordered blood test including a blood bacteria coulture, but no test for MRSA that I know of, should I be concerned that this is MRSA?
Answers: Ok, I've has quite a few medical problems lately, but one of things that really concerns me is an old scar from an abcessed lymph node in my elbow has swollen and gotten hard. Why does this concern me so? Because I was recently in the hospital for abdominal pain and the swelling started a day or so after I got out. I am concerned I may have contacted MRSA. Here is my progression of symptoms and events- I get out of the hospital and my old scar becomes painful, then it becomes swollen and painful, then it is red, swollen, painful and warm to the touch, stays that way for a day or so and then the swelling reduces, the pain lessens, it no longer is warm to the touch or red, but it has condensed into a a very hard mass beneath the skin that is still mildly sore when pressed. I went to the Dr who order me back on levaquin (I used it for cat scratch) and ordered blood test including a blood bacteria coulture, but no test for MRSA that I know of, should I be concerned that this is MRSA?
I agree with the above post that it is probably cellulitis. You may have irritated the scar on your elbow while laying in bed, or perhaps when a tourniquet was used in that area for blood draw. Did you perhaps have an IV in that arm at anytime during your hospital stay? Many things could have caused cellulitis in that area.
For the most individuals, it is hard to contract MRSA on intact skin. If you had a scratch in the area of the old scar you would be more apt to get MRSA there. If the hard lump were MRSA it would form an abcess and start draining. An actual sample from the area would be the only way the doctor could tell if it were MRSA or not.
If this slighty sore lump stays the way it is, don't worry about dying from MRSA. An obvious need for antibiotics (in that area) will arise way before getting anywhere close to death.
You can contact MRSA other ways too, it sounds more like celluitis, but I am not here to diagnose you. The blood work will pick up what needs to be seen. IF there is reason for concern more blood will be drawn
Meanwhile follow your doctor's instructions and try EPSOM SALTS. They work wonders
I used them twice a day for an abcess I had on my arm from a cat bite. WIthin three days it was gone. You have to soak the infected area in salts and hot water for 20 minutes each time.